Comments on: Accentuate the Negative http://www.wholesomereading.com/2009/05/31/accentuate-the-negative/ Musings on culture and politics by baseball writer Steven Goldman Sat, 19 May 2012 10:42:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ian http://www.wholesomereading.com/2009/05/31/accentuate-the-negative/#comment-884 Ian Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:44:52 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=477#comment-884 Frank Rich and Steve blame Cheney and Rice for failing to stop 9/11, fine. But by the same reasoning you have to blame FDR et al for failing to stop Pearl Harbor. And Steve extends the point, asking why anyone would listen to them on "national security, ever." If you condemn Cheney, you have to condemn FDR by the same reasoning. But Steve and Frank Rich won't do that obviously. I like not being partisan, I get to despise everybody. Frank Rich and Steve blame Cheney and Rice for failing to stop 9/11, fine. But by the same reasoning you have to blame FDR et al for failing to stop Pearl Harbor. And Steve extends the point, asking why anyone would listen to them on “national security, ever.” If you condemn Cheney, you have to condemn FDR by the same reasoning. But Steve and Frank Rich won’t do that obviously. I like not being partisan, I get to despise everybody.

]]> By: Michael http://www.wholesomereading.com/2009/05/31/accentuate-the-negative/#comment-878 Michael Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:11:54 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=477#comment-878 But Ian, that's precisely the point. The people who blew Pearl Harbor were sanctioned. The people that blew 9/11 were given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The people who blew Pearl Harbor attacked the people who committed Pearl Harbor. The people who blew 9/11 attacked Iraq. If you blow 9/11, you don't get to go around telling everyone how smart you are at preventing terrorist attacks. But Ian, that’s precisely the point.

The people who blew Pearl Harbor were sanctioned. The people that blew 9/11 were given the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The people who blew Pearl Harbor attacked the people who committed Pearl Harbor. The people who blew 9/11 attacked Iraq.

If you blow 9/11, you don’t get to go around telling everyone how smart you are at preventing terrorist attacks.

]]> By: Ian http://www.wholesomereading.com/2009/05/31/accentuate-the-negative/#comment-850 Ian Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:17:17 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=477#comment-850 I'm not sure I follow the logic, though. Should we not listen to anyone from FDR's administration because they blew Pearl Harbor? Was the Japanese attack any less predictable than 9/11? Okay, the Clinton and Bush administrations were asleep at the switch in the years prior to 9/11, but it is a bit extreme to dismiss any and all lessons that any and all individuals associated with these two administrations have on national security out of hand. I get it, Steve, you disagree vehemently with conservatives on just about everything. But I expect something more thoughtful from you given how scrupulously you research and write your baseball columns. I’m not sure I follow the logic, though. Should we not listen to anyone from FDR’s administration because they blew Pearl Harbor? Was the Japanese attack any less predictable than 9/11? Okay, the Clinton and Bush administrations were asleep at the switch in the years prior to 9/11, but it is a bit extreme to dismiss any and all lessons that any and all individuals associated with these two administrations have on national security out of hand. I get it, Steve, you disagree vehemently with conservatives on just about everything. But I expect something more thoughtful from you given how scrupulously you research and write your baseball columns.

]]> By: Jeff Berardi http://www.wholesomereading.com/2009/05/31/accentuate-the-negative/#comment-847 Jeff Berardi Sun, 31 May 2009 21:26:21 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=477#comment-847 Why would we take them seriously about anything, ever? How many lies have to be told before we call a scam a scam in our public discourse? Apparently, there is no limit. Why would we take them seriously about anything, ever? How many lies have to be told before we call a scam a scam in our public discourse? Apparently, there is no limit.

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